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IndieReader’s reviewers are tough, but fair

Our Reviewers won’t judge your book as compared to other self-published titles, but against other books, period. Our ratings are based on the following criteria, although reviewers are able to award partial stars (i.e. a 1.3 or a 4.7), rather than rounding up or down to a whole or half number.

1/5

Really bad 
Work on it.

2/5

Mediocre
1-2 bright spots.

3/5

Good
Worth reading.

4/5

Very Good
1-2 spots that need work

5/5

Excellent!
Must-read.

* IndieReader receives compensation for most of the books it reviews, along with copies of those books.

IR Approved
May 27, 2026

JUNIOR: A Son of the Gulf Cartel

By Mike Chavarria
Rating:
4.8 / 5.0

Well-written, thoughtfully crafted, and immensely involving, Mike Chavarria's JUNIOR: A Son of the Gulf Cartel is a forensic yet deeply human account of a high-stakes...

Rating:
3.0 / 5.0

Larry Baran's THE HOUSEWIFE LOVED A BANDIT makes up for its lack of brevity with an approachable voice that will resonate with the right audience.

IR Approved
April 9, 2026

MURDER TO MOVIES

By Paul Drexler
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

For fans of true crime and quality cinema, Paul Drexler's MURDER TO MOVIES: The Real Stories Behind Hollywood's Darkest Films is an entertaining and fast-paced...

January 7, 2026

TRUE CRIME IN REAL TIME

By Steve Scarborough
Rating:
3.6 / 5.0

Steve Scarborough's TRUE CRIME IN REAL TIME is a quick and entertaining read, notable for its unorthodox form and detailed analysis of 11 criminal investigations....

IR Approved
December 22, 2025

State of Georgia versus Clevon Jamel Jenkins

By Robert Michael Kelly
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Highly detailed, forensic, and unyielding in its insistence on fairness, Robert Michael Kelly's STATE OF GEORGIA VERSUS CLEVON JAMEL JENKINS is an exhaustive examination of...

Rating:
3.8 / 5.0

SMITTY: MY MARRIAGE TO SERIAL KILLER CHARLES SCHMID, THE PIED PIPER OF TUCSON is an intriguing perspective on a serial killer that offers plenty to...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.5 / 5.0

OBJECT: A Memoir of Childhood Abuse and a Shocking Cover-Up at the Highest Ranks of Government is a powerful memoir of childhood abuse and its...

IR Approved
August 28, 2024

THE VELVET HAMMER: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.’s Capital Murder Cases and Memoir

By Chief Judge Belvin Perry + Amy Mitchell
Rating:
4.7 / 5.0

Part true-crime case study, part long-odds memoir, Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. and Amy Mitchell’s THE VELVET HAMMER: Judge Belvin Perry, Jr.'s Capital Murder Cases and...

IR Approved
Rating:
4.6 / 5.0

An engrossing read from cover to cover, Romeo Vitelli’s TRUE CRIME STORIES YOU WON’T BELIEVE is an eclectic collection of obscure true-crime cases delivered by...

May 13, 2022

REAL PRISON REAL FREEDOM

By Rosser McDonald
Rating:
3.7 / 5.0

Though much of his life has been blighted by pointless violence, Rickie Smith ultimately finds himself with hope at last. REAL PRISON REAL FREEDOM is...

IR Approved
May 9, 2022

DARK SECRET: The Complete Story

By Nyssa Rebecca Corbin
Rating:
4.0 / 5.0

Nyssa Rebecca Corbin's DARK SECRET: The Complete Story is a grisly but uneven tale of abuse-turned-murder that will satisfy any and all true crime aficionados.

Rating:
2.7 / 5.0

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